Author: John

Working with Fear
A Follow-Up to “What Americans Fear Most”

In the recent exploration of “What Americans Fear Most,” we uncovered a staggering truth: fear isn’t just a passing shadow in American life; it’s a constant companion. From corruption and illness to global threats, the fears shared by over half of the population reveal a nation grappling with uncertainty on every level. Yet beneath these specific fears lies something deeper, universal—the ego’s core fear of annihilation, the driving force behind its every action.

Podcast Discussion

This follow-up article isn’t about fixing fear or offering quick solutions. Instead, it’s about stepping into the storm with curiosity and courage. Fear, when faced, has the potential to be a powerful teacher, a guide to understanding what we value, protect, and resist. For coaches and those working with clients, fear isn’t just an obstacle; it’s an invitation to transformation. The following insights and practices are designed to help you work with fear—whether your own or your clients—and uncover the possibilities it holds for growth and self-discovery.

Where your fear is, there is your task.
Carl Jung

Let’s move beyond simply managing fear and learn how to engage with it as a partner toward deeper awareness.

Turning the Shadow into a Guide
1. Start by Meeting Fear Eye-to-Eye
  Invite your client to sit with their fear, no running, no hiding—just presence. Ask them to imagine fear as a guest who’s knocked on their door. What does it look like? Sound like? What’s its first demand? Suddenly, fear becomes tangible, not just a formless terror, and you’ve shifted the game from victim to participant.
2. Build a Sanctuary, Not a Fortress
  The work begins with trust—not in solutions, but in the space you hold together. Let them know this is where the fear can unravel and be messy and raw. Show them that the walls of this sanctuary don’t need to block fear out but can hold it safely inside for exploration.
3. The Question That Stops the Spin
  When fear circles like a vulture, ask the kind of question that brings it to a halt: “What’s the worst thing fear is protecting you from?” or “If this fear were a story, who’s writing the ending?” These aren’t quick fixes. They’re lit matches dropped into a dark cave—watch what lights up.
4. Make Fear an Ally, Not an Enemy
  Ask them to imagine fear not as an intruder but as a messenger with ancient wisdom. What does it want them to see? What treasure is buried beneath its warnings? This reframing can transform the energy of fear from resistance to curiosity.
5. The Body Never Lies
  Let them feel the fear—not just name it, but physically track it. Is it clenching in the chest, burning in the belly? Breathe with it, let it swell, then see what happens when they stop fighting. The body knows what the mind fears to confront. Let it guide the way out.
6. Steal from the Mystics
  Borrow the words of those who’ve walked through the fire. Share Rumi’s whisper: “Try not to resist the changes that come your way… the rose came from the thorn.” Or Buddha’s stark truth: “Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life.” These aren’t just quotes—they’re handholds in the climb.
7. Show Them Fear Is a Mirror
  Fear isn’t random; it’s precise. Reflect it to them: “What does this fear say about what you value most?” or “If this fear disappeared, what might you have to confront instead?” Let them discover that fear doesn’t just obscure—it also reveals.
8. Harness the Energy of the Dragon
  Fear is raw power, pure electricity. Show them how to ride it instead of shrink from it. Breathwork, movement, or even shouting into the void—turn the static charge of fear into momentum. It’s not about suppressing it but learning to dance with it.
9. Play with Paradox
  What if fear isn’t a problem to solve but a mystery to inhabit? Challenge them: “What if this fear isn’t asking for resolution but understanding?” Let the paradox sink in—sometimes the way out is not out but deeper.
10. End with the Unfinished Story
  Leave them this: “Fear will visit again—it always does. But each time, it teaches you more about what it means to live.” Let them ponder this: fear isn’t the enemy of courage. It’s the doorway to it.
Coaching through fear is not about giving answers.
It’s about lighting torches for your client as they walk their labyrinth,
knowing they’ll find themselves waiting somewhere at the center.
November 22
The Enneagram and the Election
Mapping Collective and Personal Processes of Fear and Transformation

With its intricate geometry and universal principles, the Enneagram offers a profound lens for understanding societal and personal transformation. Growth and change are rarely linear; they unfold in cycles, driven by moments of disruption known as shock points—instances where external energy or intervention becomes necessary to maintain momentum or shift direction. The recent U.S. presidential election serves as a shock point, exposing societal vulnerabilities and deepening fear and uncertainty for many. Yet, within this crisis lies the potential for transformation.

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

By mapping the election as a societal shock point and fear as a personal process onto the Enneagram, we can collectively and individually explore pathways for moving from despair to integration.

Podcast Discussion

The Election as a Shock Point

The Enneagram’s Law of Seven describes how processes unfold in cycles, encountering resistance or inertia. Shock points are critical moments where intentional energy is required to redirect the trajectory. In the current political crisis, the election has illuminated systemic cracks—economic inequality, democratic fragility, and societal polarization—that demand reckoning.

Point 6: Fear and Doubt in the Collective Psyche

The election reflects the energy of Point 6, a place of doubt, anxiety, and mistrust. Collective fear has manifested in:
- Uncertainty about the future: Concerns about whether democratic institutions can withstand erosion and upheaval.
- Distrust of leadership: Alarm over policies prioritizing the wealthy at the expense of the middle class and social safety nets.
- Anxiety over personal security: Fears about healthcare, financial stability, and fundamental rights.
While Point 6 is fraught with uncertainty, it also offers the potential to cultivate resilience and solidarity, transforming fear into a catalyst for collective action.

Point 8: The Dynamics of Power

The election has also activated the energy of Point 8, which, when misaligned, can manifest as domination and control. Policies favoring the top 1% deepen inequality, fostering division and survival-oriented behaviors. However, Point 8 also contains the potential for awakening: as the misuse of power becomes apparent, it can galvanize resistance and inspire the reclamation of collective agency.

Point 1: Reform and Justice

The suffering and despair experienced by the middle class may spark the energy of Point 1, representing clarity and the pursuit of justice. As inequities are exposed, reform-minded movements can emerge, driven by demands for fairness and accountability. This energy provides a foundation for aligning societal values with action.

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
Buckminster Fuller

Fear as a Personal Process

For individuals, the election has amplified fear and despair, mirroring the energy of Point 6 in the Enneagram. While paralyzing at first, these emotions offer an opportunity for profound inner transformation if approached with awareness. The hexad (Points 1, 4, 2, 8, 5, 7) provides a roadmap for moving beyond fear into constructive possibilities.
- Point 1: Reconnecting with Core Values –The first step is to clarify what truly matters. Fear scatters attention, but grounding yourself in core principles—such as fairness, compassion, and justice—offers stability. Ask, What do I stand for? What is non-negotiable at this moment? Aligning with your values can transform fear into a motivating force for action.
- Point 4: Acknowledging Emotions – Fear and despair must be acknowledged, not suppressed. This stage involves sitting with uncomfortable emotions, allowing them to surface and deepen your understanding of their roots. Sharing vulnerability within a supportive community fosters connection and solidarity, helping transform isolation into belonging.
- Point 2: Engagement and Support – Fear often freezes action, but moving toward Point 2 involves seeking connection. Build networks, engage with like-minded individuals, and collaborate toward shared goals. This shift from internal paralysis to external engagement energizes the process, transforming despair into meaningful action.
- Point 8: Mobilizing Strength – As engagement grows, so does the need for Point 8 energy—empowerment and the courage to confront challenges. This is the moment to stand firm in the face of perceived threats, mobilizing inner strength without falling into aggression. Healthy Point 8 energy channels fear into constructive power.
- Point 5: Reflecting and Strategizing – After taking action, reflection becomes essential. Point 5 energy invites careful analysis and long-term planning. What is working? What needs adjustment? This stage ensures that action remains intentional and aligned with overarching goals.
- Point 7: Finding Hope and Possibility – Finally, fear gives way to hope. Point 7 represents innovation and the reemergence of joy. Here, creative solutions take root, and individuals reconnect with a sense of possibility, imagining a future shaped by collective effort and vision.
Triadic Forces

Both personal and societal processes are governed by the Enneagram’s Law of Three, which highlights the interplay of three forces:
- Active Force: Fear and despair catalyze movement, creating urgency for change.
- Passive Force: Systemic or emotional Obstacles must be acknowledged and navigated.
- Reconciling Force: Trust and collaboration harmonize tensions, transforming fear into constructive action.
Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well,
but the certainty that something makes sense,
regardless of how it turns out.
Václav Havel

Integration and Unity

At its core, the Enneagram reminds us that every process returns to the circle, symbolizing wholeness and interconnectedness. For society, this means using the shock point of the election to build stronger, more inclusive systems. For individuals, it means integrating fear into a more extensive understanding of resilience and purpose.

Societal Unfoldment
1. Fear and uncertainty (Point 6) expose systemic vulnerabilities, forcing collective reflection.
2. Action rooted in shared values (Point 1) and emotional connection (Point 4) creates momentum.
3. Strength (Point 8) and strategy (Point 5) combine to build resilience.
4. Finally, hope and innovation (Point 7) guide society toward a unified vision (Point 9).
Personal Transformation

While painful, fear becomes a gateway to growth when approached with awareness. The process moves from paralysis to clarity, connection, empowerment, and hope, allowing individuals to navigate uncertainty with greater trust in their inner resources.

Fear and Crisis as Catalysts

The election and its aftermath reflect personal and collective journeys through fear and uncertainty. The Enneagram teaches that these moments while challenging, are not endpoints—they are opportunities for transformation. By engaging consciously with the process, we can move beyond despair, turning fear into clarity, connection, and constructive action. Whether as individuals or as a society, the Enneagram reminds us that the possibility for renewal and integration remains even in darkness. Through conscious participation, we can transform this shock point into a moment of profound growth—one step, one point, one possibility at a time.
November 20
Finding Our Ground Amid the Chaos
Wisdom for a Troubled World

In an era of global unrest and unprecedented challenges, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Headlines scream polarization, climate crises, economic disparity, and escalating violence. People are freaking out—understandably so. The air is thick with despair, and the horizon promises more darkness than light. Yet, history whispers to us through the voices of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Krishnamurti, and others: in times like these, transformation begins in the streets and within our hearts.

Podcast Discussion

The Inner Battleground

Reactivity is a natural response to upheaval. Anger, fear, and despair bubble up as we witness injustice and destruction.

You think that by fighting one form of conditioning, you can break it. On the contrary, you are merely replacing one conditioning with another.
Krishnamurti

Reacting from fear or rage may feel cathartic, but it often perpetuates the cycles we wish to break. It narrows our vision and clouds our ability to act wisely. Actual change requires stepping out of the reactive loop and into a state of clear seeing—a state Gandhi and King understood well.

Gandhi’s principle of ahimsa—nonviolence—shaped his political strategies and guided his inner work.

You may never know what results come of your actions,
but if you do nothing, there will be no result.

Nonviolence is not passivity; it is the fierce discipline of aligning one’s thoughts, words, and deeds with love rather than hate. It demands the courage to meet the storm with clarity and conviction, not reactionary fervor.

Lessons from the Past

Martin Luther King Jr. described nonviolence as “a sword that heals.” He understood that activism born from hatred only deepens the wound. King’s vision of the Beloved Community was not some utopian dream—it was a call to do the hard work of bridging divides and confronting injustice without dehumanizing the oppressor.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.

Both Gandhi and King remind us that the struggle for a better tomorrow begins with cultivating inner peace. They faced adversaries who wielded brutality and hatred, yet they chose not to mirror that darkness. Instead, they channeled their energy into disciplined action guided by higher principles.

Facing Reality Without Escaping

Krishnamurti challenges us to meet the current state of the world with radical honesty.

The crisis, is not out there in the world; it is in our consciousness.

When we resist facing our fears and biases, we project them outward, fueling division. To see clearly, we must first silence the noise of our conditioned minds. This doesn’t mean turning away from the world’s problems but engaging with them from a grounded awareness.

Similarly, Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us of the power of mindfulness:

When we recognize the suffering in ourselves and others, compassion is born.

Breathing, feeling, and connecting with the present moment can transform despair into purposeful action.

Building the Bridge to Tomorrow

The question remains: What is the most productive way to deal with current affairs? Here are some guiding principles inspired by the great teachers of peace:
1. Don’t Allow Your Superego and Ego Ideal to Run the Show
  Get the judgment and bias out of the equation.
2. Anchor Yourself in Inner Clarity
  Before acting, pause. Meditate. Journal. Reflect. Cultivate a space where you can observe your emotions without being ruled by them. As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” This begins by addressing your inner turmoil.
3. Engage with Compassionate Courage
  Let your actions be fueled by love, not hatred. This doesn’t mean condoning injustice but approaching it to heal, not punish. King’s vision of a Beloved Community offers a blueprint: dialogue, education, and nonviolent action as tools for transformation.
4. Seek Unity, Not Division
  Tribalism is the hallmark of the times, but Krishnamurti warns us: “When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent.” Labels divide; humanity unites. Can we act as global citizens, rising above identity politics to address shared challenges?
5. Take Small, Steady Steps
  The enormity of the world’s problems can paralyze us. Gandhi reminds us: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Focus on what is within your reach—your local community, your workplace, your family. Small, consistent efforts ripple outward.
6. Be Willing to Do the Inner Work
  Facing the darkness within is perhaps the hardest task of all. But as Krishnamurti says, “To transform the world, we must begin with ourselves.” Question your beliefs, explore your conditioning, and cultivate a deeper awareness of the forces driving your actions.
A Call to Action with Presence

The times we live in demand more than reaction—they demand response. To meet today’s challenges, we must act not from fear or rage but from a place of inner stability and courage. Gandhi, King, and Krishnamurti didn’t just offer lofty ideals; they lived their teachings, proving that transformation is possible even in the darkest times.

As we navigate the tumult of the present, let us remember: the storm outside is a reflection of the storm within. The way forward begins here, with you, in this moment. Let your response be rooted in love, guided by wisdom, and driven by the unwavering belief that a better tomorrow is possible—even if we may not live to see it.
November 19
An Existential, Epistemological Dialogue Between Popeye and the Burning Bush

Burning Bush: “I am that I am.”

Popeye: “Yeah, I’ve said somethin’ like that meself—‘I yam what I yam, and that’s all that I yam.’ But tell me, bush, if you’s what you says, then what am I? Am I what I yam, or am I what you yam?”

Burning Bush: “You are both. You are what you perceive yourself to be, and yet you are also a reflection of Me. The microcosm and the macrocosm are one.”

Popeye: “Micro-macro-what now? Look, I’m just a sailorman. I know the sea, the stars, and the taste o’ spinach. This stuff’s startin’ to sound like double Dutch.”

Burning Bush: “Then let us speak of the sea, sailor. Tell me—what do you see when you look upon the ocean?”

Popeye: “I sees somethin’ big, powerful, and endless. Makes a fella feel small, but also kinda alive, ya know?”

Burning Bush: “And yet, every drop of the ocean contains its essence. The ocean would not be the ocean without its drops, just as you would not be you without Me.”

Popeye: “Huh. So you’re sayin’ the ocean ain’t just water—it’s the whole shebang, includin’ every wave, every tide, every storm?”

Burning Bush: “Precisely. And you, Popeye, are like a sailor upon this infinite sea. You navigate its surface, but its depth is within you.”

Popeye: “A sailor’s only as good as his ship. And lemme tell ya, I’ve been through some storms that made me wonder if the ship—or me—was up to snuff.”

Burning Bush: “The storm tests the sailor, but it also reveals his strength. Do you think the sea and the sailor are separate?”

Popeye: “Well, sure. I’m on the sea, not in it—unless I fall overboard, and then it’s every man for hisself!”

Burning Bush: “Yet without the sea, there would be no sailor. And without the sailor, the sea would not be known. You see, Popeye, the sailor and the sea are two sides of the same existence.”

Popeye: “So you’re sayin’ I ain’t just sailin’ on the ocean—I’m a part o’ it, whether I knows it or not?”

Burning Bush: “Yes. Your being flows from the same source as the ocean’s waves. You are both observer and participant in the vastness of existence.”

Popeye: “Well, blow me down! Never thought o’ it like that. Guess I’m not just a sailorman—I’m part o’ the sea itself!”

Burning Bush: “And the sea, like you, is part of Me. Every wave that rises and falls, every tide that comes and goes, reflects the eternal ‘I am.’”

Popeye: “That’s a lot to take in, bush. Makes a sailorman feel a bit less alone out there on them big waters.”

Burning Bush: “You are never alone, Popeye. The sea carries you, the stars guide you, and I am the wind in your sails. You are both sailor and sea, finite and infinite.”

Popeye: “Guess I ain’t just followin’ the stars—I’m part o’ the whole dang sky. And here I thought spinach was the answer.”

Burning Bush: “Spinach fuels your body, but knowing who you are fuels your soul.”

Popeye: “Thanks, bush. I’ll keep on sailin’—but now I knows I’m sailin’ through somethin’ bigger than the sea.”

Burning Bush: “And with each wave you ride, you bring the ocean closer to knowing itself.”

November 19
Chasing Stars

A Journey of Dreams and Discovery

The night sky rippled like an ocean of velvet, the stars shimmering as though alive. Beneath this cosmic canvas, a young boy dashed across a hilltop, a makeshift net in his hands. His laughter echoed through the air as he leaped toward the heavens, the stars just beyond his reach. But why, you might wonder, was he chasing stars?

The Dream That Beckoned

It began with a simple bedtime tale. “Every star,” his grandmother whispered one night, “carries a dream waiting to be caught.” Those words sparked a yearning in his chest, an ache that grew every night. He would lie awake, staring at the sky, wondering which dream was his to claim. But the stars, so distant and indifferent, seemed to mock him. “But what if I could catch one?” he thought. And so, he built his net—a creation of twigs and string, bound with hope only a child could muster.

But his journey wasn’t without obstacles. On his first night out, he tripped over a gnarled root, his net tearing apart. Frustrated, he almost gave up. But then, something remarkable happened. A firefly landed on his shoulder, its glow pulsating like a heartbeat. “If something as small as this can shine so bright,” he thought, “maybe I can too.”

The Girl Who Caught the Moon

As his quest continued, he met a girl unlike any he’d known. She was cradling something luminous—a sphere that seemed to hum with life. “Is that the moon?” he asked, amazed. She laughed, a sound like wind through chimes. “No, it reflects what I hope for,” she said. “What do you hope for?” he asked, and for a moment, he saw her smile falter. “To make something beautiful out of the ordinary,” she whispered. Her words lingered in his mind like the scent of rain, filling him with a newfound resolve. If she could hold a piece of her dream, why couldn’t he?

The Balloon and the Star

One evening, he came across two children releasing balloons into the twilight. “Why let them go?” he asked. “Because they’re tied to our wishes,” one replied. “If they rise high enough, maybe the stars will notice.” It was then he realized his error. The stars didn’t need to be caught—they needed to be invited.

With this revelation, he crafted a new net, lighter and more open, and stood atop the hill once more. This time, he didn’t leap. He waited, his heart wide with patience. And then, it happened. A single star descended, resting on the edge of his net like a bird alighting on a branch.

The Key to the Sky

He held the star in his hands, its warmth pulsing against his palms. But as he gazed at it, he saw something unexpected—a key shimmering within the light. Holding it high, he felt the weight of his grandmother’s words. “Dreams aren’t meant to be kept,” she had said once. “They’re meant to unlock what’s hidden.”

With trembling hands, he turned the key in the air. A door materialized, its frame glowing against the night sky. The girl with the moon appeared beside him, her eyes wide with wonder. “Shall we?” she asked, and together, they stepped through.

Through the Door

On the other side, the world was a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Fields of golden light stretched endlessly, and rivers sang songs in languages they didn’t know but understood. The boy then realized that chasing stars wasn’t about the stars but about discovering what lay beyond them.

A Stone’s Ripple

As they explored, the boy picked up a smooth stone. “What’s this for?” the girl asked. “To see how far it will ripple,” he said, tossing it into a nearby river. The ripples expanded, touching shores they couldn’t see. He then understood that his actions, no matter how small, could reach farther than he ever imagined.

The Circle Completes

Years later, the boy—now grown—found himself beneath the same hilltop sky. His children listened eagerly as he told them about the night he caught a star. They looked at him, their eyes bright with the same wonder he once felt. “Do you think we can catch one, too?” they asked. He smiled, handing them the old net. “Go ahead,” he said. “The stars are waiting.”

As they ran into the night, he looked up at the sky, now more a witness than a seeker. And for the first time, he realized he wasn’t chasing stars anymore—he had become one.

November 17
How Will You Respond When They Wake Up?

Imagine your neighbor standing in their flooded kitchen after another storm or your sibling struggling to pay for groceries as inflation, likely driven higher by imposed tariffs, hits 8% or more. The consequences of systemic fragility are no longer abstract—they are crashing into daily life. As food prices rise and crop yields falter, storms destroy homes, and inflation erodes livelihoods, many will finally wake up to the implications of these changes. The question is: How will we respond?

Floods in Spain and Italy have left entire regions underwater, while hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina have destroyed homes and uprooted lives. Inflation is already squeezing households, and tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and resource scarcity will likely increase costs. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns create food shortages, threatening developing nations and global stability. These disruptions expose the fragility of the systems we’ve long relied on—and force us to confront the reality that those systems may never function as they once did.

As Peter Zeihan (The End of the World Is Just the Beginning) points out, deglobalization accelerates this fragmentation. Nations are retreating into self-interest, unraveling trade networks, and further destabilizing supply chains. Jem Bendell’s Deep Adaptation and Breaking Together argue that this breakdown is both a challenge and an opportunity to rethink how we live and connect. This isn’t about waiting for institutions to save us. It’s about recognizing that resilience will come from human-scale efforts, not top-down solutions.

In these moments, the temptation to say, “I told you so,” is strong. But judgment divides when connection is what we need most. Blame won’t rebuild a flooded home, restock empty shelves, or soothe the fear of rising costs. When your neighbor or sibling wakes up to the reality of these consequences, they won’t need vindication; they’ll need understanding.

The answer lies in stepping forward with empathy and purpose. Small, human-scaled groups—neighbors, friends, families—will be the foundation of resilience. These groups don’t need to solve systemic crises. They must address immediate needs: sharing food, offering care, and pooling resources. In these connections, we find the strength to navigate what lies ahead.

Engaged optimism—a concept championed by Bendell—is not blind hope or denial of hardship. It’s the willingness to face reality and act meaningfully within it. When inflation rises, storms destroy, and scarcity bites, this optimism helps us move forward. It reminds us that our response matters for survival and the kind of lives we want to lead together.

This is not about fixing everything or returning to the way things were. It’s about creating something new in the spaces left by what’s breaking. The systems we’ve depended on may never fully recover, but in their place, we can cultivate relationships and networks that offer stability and meaning. The storms are here, the costs are rising, and the challenges are immense. However, how we respond to each other and these realities will determine whether we fracture further or come together to build something resilient.

When your neighbor or sibling wakes up, meet them not with blame but with understanding. Say, “I understand your pain. Let’s face this together.” Because in a world where systems falter, connection and care will carry us forward—not just to survive but to rediscover what it means to live truly.

November 16